America faces a nebulous future

By James Szynkiewicz

When viewing the future prospects of the United States, I put on my European hat – as a native of Poland who emigrated to the United States in 1959. I see our great country in transition toward a nebulous future, shaped by the erosion of institutions on which American democracy rests. Most Americans, immersed in daily political squabbles seem to be oblivious to this process.

The Constitution contains checks and balances designed to prevent political abuse in the process of governance. Our government is divided into executive, legislative and judicial branches, expected to “keep an eye on each other” in the best interest of the nation.

Donald Trump is not the first president to test the executive limits of Article II of the Constitution. However, in the face of an increasingly dysfunctional Congress, some of his actions assume an authoritarian trend. Hidden within is waste of billions of dollars invested under previous presidents in scientific, ecological and political regulations and participation, reversed with a stroke of a pen, without due proof to the contrary.

Under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, it is up to Congress to “regulate Commerce with foreign Nations” and “declare War.” Current imposition of punitive tariffs by Trump opens a question, “Isn’t it Congress’ turf?” As for involvement in military interventions, U.S. presidents have managed to circumvent Congress, by direct action or with the United Nations as cover. Some of these are Korea (Harry S. Truman), Vietnam (John F. Kennedy), Lebanon (Ronald Reagan), Grenada (Reagan), Panama (George H.W. Bush), first Iraq War (G.H.W. Bush), Bosnia (Bill Clinton), Afghanistan (George W. Bush), second Iraq War (G.W. Bush), Syria (Barack Obama) and Libya (Obama). Congress has been unsuccessful in regaining control. Thus, presidential threats to North Korea and Iran should be taken seriously.

The Judicial Branch is being politicized at the highest level. Recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions have been corrupting America’s election system. Cases in point are the removing of limits on campaign contributions to candidates and political-action committees, followed by granting donors anonymity; and the Janus decision. The latter removes the requirement that non-union public employees pay dues in union shops; it effectively reduces the incomes of the unions and their power in financing political activities. Thus, the rich will have uncontrolled political influence, while workers will be hamstrung in theirs. Even without Russia’s meddling, one of main pillars of our democracy will be doomed.

The First Amendment has been degraded to a morass of confusion. Social media are edging out the conventional news media, by providing instant, irresponsible and contradictory information. Material important for people at large to form opinions critical to maintaining our democracy often is withheld for the sake of commercials. Isn’t this another form of censorship?

The Second Amendment has been in the news for decades. In my opinion, the right of individuals to carry arms has become irrelevant, in the face of hacking and cyber attacks. Our nation virtually can be paralyzed without enemy paratroopers dropping from the sky. The only good of having personal arms would be to keep bad guys from robbing your stash of food and water.

I agree with Trump’s initiative to form a “Space Force,” but what about our infrastructure on land? Vital industries and institutions are left to fend for themselves.

National cohesiveness has been eroding for decades. Not only is our public education shunning civic issues, but it also fails to instill an understanding of discipline and responsibility among the growing diversity of students. Scandals involving the Catholic Church have decimated its educational institutions, adding to the problem. The results are numbers of young people, unprepared for social and civic interface, who fall victim to participation in crime, drugs, gangs and similar activities. Some have called them “functional illiterates.” Rather than being shaped mentally at an early age, they are effectively written off. With an aging population and dysfunctional immigration policies, who is going to keep our national infrastructure in shape?

Last but not least is the issue of social status and race. Our country is becoming like a layer cake, with voids between individual layers. We have ethnic layers of people of African, European, Hispanic and Asian descent, split within themselves into loose subgroups, including some 12 million “undocumented” residents. A credible organization like the NAACP should have taken the lead in filling these gaps and establishing working relations with authorities.

Equality must come from within. Ours is a country of equal opportunity, earned by personal effort and participation, not by elitist gripes. Our adversaries will use every means to drive a wedge into every void created by divisive politics. We must create the right chemistry to foster a common concern for a unified future.